Update [2005-2-8 21:26:12 by clb8]: From the campaign originator, Stacy: I just spoke with the florist, and *we're over 800 orders now! (that's $8,000 worth of roses, and he's squeezing as much value out of it for us, so each order might even be for 4 or 5 roses.)* All security is coordinated at the Capitol and I'm just running from LA Times reporters who want this story now. I plan to "tip off" other media on Friday or Saturday--so feel free to do the same. There are a couple of photographers we've already arranged to be there to get the good photo. Thanks!
The Barbara Boxer Rose Campaign. I can't believe that I am the only one who can feel strongly about the statement it makes and the opportunity it provides to help reframe the image of liberals. Get ready for an impassioned argument and plea for your participation.
Update [2005-1-30 1:32:31 by clb8]: Coast-to-Coast Florist coordinated with the campaign's originator for the special price of $10 for three red roses. Call 1-888-501-7673. The last date to order is February 12th. All roses will be delivered, en masse, to Senator Boxer's office at the Hart Building in Washington D.C. on Valentine's Day. If you've already heard about this campaign skip my diary and read the original email in which Stacy describes the campaign, delivery details and her reasons for initiating this inspired and heartfelt act of appreciation (in PDF)
here. If you're not convinced, read my diary, then join us - it feels sooooo good!
Update [2005-1-30 20:9:23 by clb8]: The florist is able to handle the load, and Boxer's office is ready to receive them.
First, I heard about the campaign on the Mike Malloy show Friday night (the 28th) while driving. It was a simple idea: for $10 anyone calling a dedicated 888 number at Coast-to-Coast Florists could send Barbara Boxer 3 roses, to be delivered on Valentine's Day (with the delivery fee picked up by a sponsor). I was struck by the sheer sweetness of the idea - very squishy - as a friend of mine might say.
After the squishiness subsided my Practical Voice showed up to remind me that $10 could be better spent on anything in these political times than roses. Then my Pessimistic Voice showed up to suggest that the campaign was a ploy by an opportunistic Republican florist out to milk the bleeding-heart's of liberals. But a third voice convinced Squishy to memorize the toll-free number anyway, and I got on with my evening.
Later (much later) I searched the web and dKos for the Barbara Boxer Rose Campaign and came up with nothing. NADA. Curious, I called the 888 number. A prerecorded message stating that I had reached the Barbara Boxer Rose Campaign confirmed that at least the florist knew what was going on. Satisfied I was looking for something real, I posted a comment on the late-evening dKos Open Thread and expected in the morning to find a dozen replies pointing out at least as many links (as well as my poor research skills). I got one reply. ONE. From someone whose Practical Voice reminded me that as nice as the idea was, $10 could be better spent on blah, blah, blah. Now that third voice from the night before showed up, the one I have as yet identified to you - my Smart Marketing Voice - loudly demanding to know how anyone could not see the reframing opportunity for liberals here. Aren't we having an image problem? Aren't we seen as cranky, protesting, stick-in-the-muds who don't stand for anything to which average Americans can relate? Okay, so who can't relate to a consumer-friendly, feel-good holiday, kick-of-color-and-fragrance, joyful bouquet of bright beautiful ROSES? About 10,000 or so? On television? What ratings-savvy media employee can pass up a stunning, bright, up-beat story? Well, besides FOX that is. Now I had to know the campaign originators intention - send a nice (big) bouquet to Senator Boxer or create a brilliant media photo-op.
Today I tracked down the originator of the idea, Stacy, an unassuming Californian who doesn't work in politics, media or any related field. She wasn't familiar with other email campaigns like "Not One Thin Dime" day (over which, by the way, FOX had a field day. Coulter even referred to it as an "ad for the Republican party"). Stacy hadn't heard of daily KOS either (so couldn't be aware of the dKOS diary Barbara Boxer keeps). She just, well, wants to send a very large bouquet of roses (a "sea" was how she phrased it) to Senator Boxer because she really, really does feel, from her heart, a sincere emotion for the Senator. And she'd like the idea to be a surprise.
Huh?
She doesnt want the mainstream media to know about it until very close to the delivery date, let alone be interviewed by anyone. She was very reluctant to speak with me. After I assured her I'd be brief (and wasn't from FOX News) I pressed her a little to find out why, if she didnt want people to know about the campaign, there was a dedicated toll-free number and a mention on Mike Malloy? Turns out her entire broadcasting of the idea began on the 28th and consisted of emails to liberal-leaning websites, including Air America. Mike Malloy just happened to broadcast it first and my hearing it was the kind of low-key happenstance for which she was hoping. My call shocked her because it was the first and seemed to confirm her worst fear, that the media would descend on the idea and their coverage could somehow backfire for Senator Boxer. As Stacy later wrote in an email to me:
I think media coverage closer to the date is fine, but until then, it would be great to get this word out one person to another, on liberal blogs and other "underground media" Internet outlets. That's just my opinion, of course, I can't control what each person does with the information. I guess I envisioned the roses would be a "surprise" to the Senator, but now I see she'll probably get wind of it somehow! I just don't want some jerk on TV saying that she sent them to herself or that a big corporation or other large entity did this--we the people are doing it, and we're doing it for Senator Boxer.
All I can say is that having spoken to her, I think Stacy is about as close as people get to the liberal 'heartland'. She means to do a kind thing, a real thing and a good thing. And by that I am genuinely moved. But I think there is an additional motivation for joining her campaign. It is a way to visually illustrate, in positive beautiful terms, that liberals are just like every other American in our most fundamental emotion of love and our appreciation for those who demonstrate courage, truth and justice - in our name - for the best interest of all.
I'm on board, are you?